Trashcan with sliding cover

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a trashcan set. The trashcan set includes a can and at least one lid. The can includes two parallel connection portions and an opening between the connection portions. The lid includes two parallel connection portions put movably on the connection portions of the can so that the lid can close and open the opening.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a trashcan with a sliding lid.

2. Related Prior Art

As in Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 568094, a trashcan set includes a can 10, a parent lid 20 and a child cover 30. The can 10 defines a space 11 for containing trash. An opening 22 is made in the center of the parent lid 20. Two parallel ridges 23 are formed on the parent lid 20 so that the opening 22 is located between the ribs 23. A groove 24 is defined in each of the ridges 23 so that the grooves 24 face each other. The child lid 30 is put between the ridges 23 and can slide in the grooves 24 in order to shut the opening 22 in the parent lid 20.

However, plenty problems have been encountered in using this conventional trashcan set. The opening 22 is small, and it is impossible to throw a large piece of trash through it. A large piece of trash can only be cast into the can 10 after the parent lid 20 is lifted. A user has to lift the parent lid 20 every time he or she wants to throw a large piece of trash into the can 10. This causes the user troubles and inconvenience.

Furthermore, the child lid 30 is installed on the parent lid 20 in a sliding manner, and the child lid 30 can easily be displaced when it is bumped. For example, smelling something tasty in the can 10, a pet can easily scratch and slide the child lid 30 from the opening 22 in order to access to trash in the can 10. Thus, the pet might make a mass with the trash that it dugs out from the can 10. If this trashcan set is used outdoors, it will be vulnerable to the attack by wild dogs and cats. The environment around the trashcan set might be made dirty and messy.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, a trashcan set includes a can and at least one lid. The can includes two parallel connection portions and an opening between the connection portions. The lid includes two parallel connection portions put movably on the connection portions of the can so that the lid can close and open the opening.

An advantage of the trashcan set according to the present invention is that the opening can be completely opened in order to receive large pieces of trash.

Another advantage of the trashcan set according to the present invention is that the lid cannot be removed from the can by pets.

Other advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described through detailed description of embodiments referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trashcan set according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the trashcan set shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial view of the trashcan set shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 5-5 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial view of the trashcan set shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the trashcan set shown in FIG. 1 in use.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a trashcan set according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the trashcan set shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 10-10 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial view of the trashcan set of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a trashcan set according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the trashcan set of FIG. 12 in use.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a trashcan set according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the trashcan set of FIG. 14 in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a trashcan set 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The trashcan set 1 includes a can 10, a lid 20 and two sliding devices 30. The sliding devices 30 are put between the lid 20 and the can 1 0 so that the lid 20 can slide on the can 10.

The can 10 includes two parallel connection portions 12 and an opening 11 between the connection portions 12. The opening 11 is square in this embodiment.

The lid 20 slides on the can 10 in order to shut and open the opening 11. The profile of the lid 20 is identical to that of the opening 11 of the can 10 so that the former can cover the latter completely. The lid 20 includes two parallel connection portions 21 on the bottom. The connection portions 21 of the lid 20 are made and arranged corresponding to the connection portions 12 of the can 10. The connection portions 12 of the can 10 are put between the connection portions 21 of the lid 20. The lid 20 is designed to completely cover the can 10. A pet will not be able to open the lid 20 if it jumps onto the lid 20.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a positioning element 22 is installed on the lid 20. On the can 10 is installed a positioning element 23 based on the positioning element 22. The positioning element 22 can be engaged with the positioning element 23 in order to keep the lid 20 covering the can 10. In this embodiment, the positioning element 22 is a piece of iron. The positioning element 23 is a magnet. The magnet 23 can attract the positioning element 22 in order to keep the lid 20 closing the can 10. On the lid 20 is formed a handling element 24 opposite to the positioning element 22. The handling element 24 facilitates the movement of the lid 20 by a user. The handling element 24 is an edge of the lid 20 that is bent in this embodiment; however, the handling element 24 may be a handle made separately and attached to the lid 20.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, each of the sliding devices 30 includes a rail 31, a slide 32 and a roller 33. Each of the rails 31 is attached to the external side of one of the connection portions 12. Each of the slides 32 is attached to the internal side of one of the connection portions 21. Each of the rails 31 is put in one of the slides 32 so that the slides 32 can slide relative to the rails 31 along a line. Each of the rollers 33 is put between one of the rails 31 and one of the slides 32 so that the slides 32 can slide relative to the rails 31 smoothly. The rollers 33 are preferably balls.

Referring to FIG. 7, by exerting on the handling portion 24 a force sufficient to overcome the attraction between the magnet 23 and the piece of iron 22, a user can slide the lid 20 on the can 10 along the direction in which the sliding devices 30 are arranged. The opening 11 is almost completely opened. Thus, even large pieces of trash can be tossed into the can 10 through the opening 11.

Referring to FIGS. 8 through 11, there is shown a trashcan set according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment except a few things. Firstly, a collar 40 is used additionally. Secondly, the sliding devices 30 are put between the lid 20 and the collar 40 instead of the can 10. In detail, the rails 31 are installed on two connection portions 41 of the collar 40 instead of the connection portions 12 of the can 10. Because of the sliding devices 30, the lid 20 can slide on the collar 40 smoothly. The collar 40 includes an enlarged skirt 42 in order to receive an upper edge of the can 10 so that the collar 40 is put on the can 10 stably. The collar 40 can be removed from the can 10.

The lid 20 and the collar 40 can be removed from the can 10 so that a bag (not shown) can be put in the can 10, with an upper edge of the bag bent against the upper edge of the can 10. The skit 42 can be put on the upper edge of the bag so that the upper edge of the bag is sandwiched between the skit 42 and the upper edge of the can 10. Thus, the bag is ready for receiving trash.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, there is shown a trashcan set according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is like the first embodiment except including a can 50 twice as large as the can 10 and including one more lid 20. The can 50 includes two connection portions 52 similar to but twice as long as the connection portions 12 of the can 10. Between the connection portions 52 an opening 51 that can only be completely closed by means of two lids 20. The lids 20 are made identical to but installed opposite to each other. Accordingly, two more sliding devices 30 are used.

In the third embodiment, the opening 51 is rectangular. However, the opening 51 may be oblong, hexangular or any other form as long as there are two parallel connection portions 52.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, there is shown a trashcan set according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment is like the third embodiment except including a collar 60 in addition. The difference between the fourth and third embodiments is like the difference between the second and first embodiments.

The trashcan set according to the present invention exhibits the following advantages:

Firstly, the use is convenient because the lid or lids are installed on the can in a sliding manner and the handling portion or portions are provided on the lid or lids so that small and large pieces of trash can easily be tossed into the can by pushing the handling portion or portions.

Secondly, the sliding of the lid or lids on the can is smooth because the sliding devices are provided between the lid or lids and the can.

Thirdly, the relative position between the can and the lid or lids can be well kept by means of the positioning elements.

Fourthly, the excellent positioning is done simply by means of the attraction between the magnet or magnets and the piece or pieces of iron.

Fifthly, the lid or lids can be removed from the can if desired as the collar can be used between the lid or lids and the can.

The present invention has been described through the detailed description of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims. 

1. A trashcan set comprising: a can with two parallel connection portions and an opening between the connection portions; and at least one lid with two parallel connection portions put movably on the connection portions of the can so that the lid can close and open the opening.
 2. The trashcan set according to claim 1 comprising a sliding device between each of the connection portions of the can and one of the connection portions of the lid.
 3. The trashcan set according to claim 2 wherein each of the sliding devices comprises: a rail attached to each of the connection portions of the can; and a slide attached to one of the connection portions of the lid and movably connected to the rail so that the slide can slide relative to the rail along a line smoothly.
 4. The trashcan set according to claim 3 wherein each of the sliding devices comprises a roller provided between the rail and the slide for improving the smoothness of the sliding of the slide relative to the rail.
 5. The trashcan set according to claim 1 wherein the can comprises a positioning element installed thereon, wherein the lid comprises a positioning element installed thereon for engagement with the positioning element of the can in order to keep the lid in position relative to the can.
 6. The trashcan set according to claim 5 wherein the positioning element of the lid is a piece of iron, wherein the positioning element of the can is a magnet for attracting the piece of iron.
 7. The trashcan set according to claim 1 comprising two lids.
 8. The trashcan set according to claim 7 comprising a sliding device between each of the connection portions of the can and one of the connection portions of each of the lids.
 9. The trashcan set according to claim 8 wherein each of the sliding devices comprises: a rail attached to each of the connection portions of the can; and a slide attached to one of the connection portions of each of the lids and movably connected to the rail so that the slide can slide relative to the rail along a line smoothly.
 10. The trashcan set according to claim 9 wherein each of the sliding devices comprises a roller provided between the rail and the slide for improving the smoothness of the sliding of the slide relative to the rail.
 11. The trashcan set according to claim 7 wherein the can comprises two positioning elements installed thereon, wherein each of the lids comprises a positioning element installed thereon for engagement with one of the positioning elements of the can in order to keep the lids in position relative to the can.
 12. The trashcan set according to claim 11 wherein the positioning element of each of the lids is a piece of iron, wherein each of the positioning elements of the can is a magnet for attracting the piece of iron of each of the lids.
 13. The trashcan set according to claim 7 wherein the opening is rectangular.
 14. A trashcan set comprising: a can with an opening; a collar installed on the can around the opening, the collar comprising two parallel connection portions; and at least one lid with two parallel connection portions put movably on the connection portions of the collar so that the lid can close and open the opening.
 15. The trashcan set according to claim 14 comprising a sliding device between each of the connection portions of the collar and one of the connection portions of the lid.
 16. The trashcan set according to claim 15 wherein each of the sliding devices comprises: a rail attached to each of the connection portions of the collar; and a slide attached to one of the connection portions of the lid and movably connected to the rail so that the slide can slide relative to the rail along a line smoothly.
 17. The trashcan set according to claim 16 wherein each of the sliding devices comprises a roller provided between the rail and the slide for improving the smoothness of the sliding of the slide relative to the rail.
 18. The trashcan set according to claim 14 wherein the collar comprises a positioning element installed thereon, wherein the lid comprises a positioning element installed thereon for engagement with the positioning element of the collar in order to keep the lid in position relative to the collar.
 19. The trashcan set according to claim 18 wherein the positioning element of the lid is a piece of iron, wherein the positioning element of the collar is a magnet for attracting the piece of iron.
 20. The trashcan set according to claim 14 wherein the collar comprises a skirt for receiving an upper end of the can.
 21. The trashcan set according to claim 14 comprising two lids.
 22. The trashcan set according to claim 21 comprising a sliding device between each of the connection portions of the collar and one of the connection portions of each of the lids.
 23. The trashcan set according to claim 22 wherein each of the sliding devices comprises: a rail attached to each of the connection portions of the collar; and a slide attached to one of the connection portions of each of the lids and movably connected to the rail so that the slide can slide relative to the rail along a line smoothly.
 24. The trashcan set according to claim 23 wherein each of the sliding devices comprises a roller provided between the rail and the slide for improving the smoothness of the sliding of the slide relative to the rail.
 25. The trashcan set according to claim 21 wherein the collar comprises two positioning elements installed thereon, wherein each of the lids comprises a positioning element installed thereon for engagement with one of the positioning elements of the collar in order to keep the lids in position relative to the can.
 26. The trashcan set according to claim 25 wherein the positioning element of each of the lids is a piece of iron, wherein each of the positioning elements of the collar is a magnet for attracting the piece of iron of each of the lids.
 27. The trashcan set according to claim 21 wherein the collar comprises a skirt for receiving an upper end of the can. 